France, Italy Join Spain in Barring U.S., Israeli Military Access

France and Italy have joined Spain in restricting U.S. and Israeli military access to their airspace and bases, actions that are deepening tensions within NATO over the ongoing war in Iran. The moves, reported on March 31, come more than a month into the conflict that began on February 28, highlighting growing divisions between the United States and its European allies.

A Western diplomat and two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that France denied Israeli aircraft permission to fly over its territory over the weekend while carrying American weapons destined for use in the war against Iran. This marked the first such refusal by France since the conflict's outset. Neither the French presidency nor the foreign ministry immediately commented on the decision.

In Italy, authorities last week rejected a U.S. request for military aircraft to land at the Sigonella air base in Sicily before continuing to the Middle East, according to sources and reports from the Corriere della Sera newspaper. Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto confirmed that some U.S. bombers were denied landing rights because the Pentagon had not followed required authorization protocols, submitting the...